Overrated Test Players: Test cricket is a format that keeps looking out for new narratives. At times it is about the style of play while at times it is about the players themselves. Every new cricketing season there is a lookout for a breakout star. For a player, who could carry forward the mantle of Test cricketing legacy.
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The search for the next big thing:
Teams and the fans of their respective nations waste no effort in building a player up. The moment people identify a wee bit of potential they are identified as superstars who would rule world cricket. But it hasn’t always been the case with most. There have been few who have made multiple comebacks to cement their spot while few just fade away.
But there are a few who manage to get a long rope because of their pursued talent or at times because of a certain golden phase in their career. These players are grossly overrated owing to different factors.
We look at 3 such overrated Test players:
#3 KL Rahul
There has been enough clamour around KL Rahul’s extended run in the Indian team in Tests. He was someone who scored his debut century in Sydney in 2015. KL Rahul had everything going for him. His technique was solid. He possessed a cool temperament. Rahul had a fairly decent run until India’s overseas cycle in 2018. But since then he was more of a walking wicket. He scored a stunning century in 2018 at the Oval but much damage had already been caused.
The comeback but the same old story:
Rahul made a comeback in 2021 scoring a century at Lords and later in Centurion. His sporadic brilliance earns him more games but he has never managed to make the Test spot his own. He averages a paltry 33.44 after 47 Tests with a home average of 40.13 and an away average of 30.69!
#2 Marnus Labuschagne
It might appear weird that the world’s number one-ranked Test batter is regarded as overrated. But the fact of the matter is Marnus Labuschagne broke into world dominance on the back of stellar run-scoring in home conditions. The number 3 batter for Australia came into prominence with a gritty performance in the 2019 Ashes. His career went from strength to strength, especially in Australian conditions.
The home bully:
Marnus averages a brilliant 70.50 at home in 14 Tests while his away average is 40.39 in only 14 Tests. He looked all at sea playing the Indian bowling in the WTC Final and later appeared clueless against Stuart Broad in the first Ashes Test. A lot of work needs to be done for him to be counted among the modern greats. He clearly has a big gap to bridge.
#1 Babar Azam
He is undoubtedly one of the modern masters in the white ball game. Babar Azam despite his white ball heroics always gets called out for his strike rates in the T20I format. It leaves him at peace only in the ODIs where his numbers currently are up there with the best in the business. There is a popular perception that Babar is an all-format and an all-condition player but his Test numbers reveal a different story.
Numbers don’t lie:
The Pakistani Test captain has a promising Test average of 48.63 in 47 Tests. Babar usually plays in Pakistan’s batting-friendly conditions, which might warrant an even better aggregate. But still, an overall average of 48+ is impressive. But when it comes to his away exploits that the numbers take a beating. Babar averages 71 at home in 13 Tests while he averages a mediocre 39.95 away from home. A batsman of Babar’s stature surely would like to have stronger numbers!
